Integrated Surgical Systems reaches an agreement with largest hospital group in Japan
Integrated Surgical Systems, Inc. (ISS), a pioneer in medical robotics and the world leader in image-directed, semi-autonomous robotic products for surgical applications, announced today that its distributor reached an agreement with Tokushukai Medical Corporation for the purchase of ten (10) ROBODOC(R) Surgical Assistant Systems to be delivered in 2001.
Tokushukai Medical Corporation is the largest health care provider in Japan. It owns over one hundred and sixty facilities throughout Japan, including 47 hospitals with beds in the range of 190 to 600 per hospital. Remaining facilities represent clinics and nursing homes. These hospitals are located throughout Japan including the islands of Okinawa and Tokunoshima.
Dr. Torao Tokuda is the chairman and the Director of the Tokushukai Medical Corporation and also a general surgeon by training. "Our guiding principals are: (a) all living beings are created equal; (b) build and operate hospitals that patients can calmly trust their lives to; and (c) provide superior medical care for everybody. So, when I first learned about the ROBODOC System and understood how it fits our basic philosophy of providing superior care for all beings, I decided that this revolutionary technology must be available to all patients who come to one of our hospitals," commented Dr. Tokuda. "I saw how the ROBODOC surgery performed at Osaka University on the National television and also received very positive reports from our orthopedic surgeons, which helped facilitate the decision on my part," added Dr. Tokuda. "Even though we are starting with ten (10) ROBODOC Systems, our goal is to have it installed at each Tokushukai hospital," continued Dr. Tokuda.
"We at ISS are extremely pleased with this opportunity to serve patients from all walks of life in Japan. Tokushukai Medical Corporation has the highest reputation not only because they are the largest group, but because they also provide the highest level of health care to all their patients. We are very honored to have such an opportunity," stated Dr. Ramesh Trivedi, President and CEO of Integrated Surgical Systems.
"This is the single largest order we have received so far. We anticipate delivering these systems within a year. In addition to the ROBODOC, many of these systems will be supplied with application modules for all available major options, namely, Pinless Total Hip Arthroplasty, Total Knee Arthroplasty, Revision Hip and Acetabulum Cup planning. We also see a great opportunity of providing a significant number of additional ROBODOC Systems to Tokushukai in the current year as well as next year," added Dr. Trivedi.
Mr. Horikoshi, Sales Manager of ROBODOC-Japan stated that, "We have a long standing relationship with Tokushukai Medical Corporation. They are an excellent group to work with. They try to maintain and enhance their reputation by always taking a lead in introducing proven, innovative, new technology such as the ROBODOC System to its member hospitals and patients."
Upon installation of these systems and those ordered earlier by ROBODOC-Japan, the installed base will grow from four (4) Systems to twenty (20) ROBODOC Systems in Japan.
To date, ISS has already received an order for six (6) NeuroMate Surgical Systems from its distributor in Japan and one system in Europe for delivery in 2001.
ROBODOC is the robotic surgery system of ISS that is used for total joint arthoplasties. ROBODOC consists of a robotic arm assembly and a PC-based 3-D planning station called ORTHODOC. ISS has installed 37 ROBODOC systems worldwide. The ISS neurosurgery product, NeuroMate, is the first robotic technology-based system for use in stereotactic brain surgery. NeuroMate consists of a robotic arm assembly and a PC-based planning system. NeuroMate also interfaces with other popular planning stations offered by third-party vendors. ISS has installed 16 NeuroMate systems in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
Integrated Surgical Systems, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets and services computer-controlled, image-directed robotic products for surgical applications. ISS produces the ROBODOC Surgical Assistant System (ROBODOC), which is designed for orthopedic applications. The ROBODOC System has been used to perform successful total hip replacement surgeries on more than 8,000 patients worldwide. ROBODOC is currently being marketed in Europe and the Middle East. NeuroMate, an ISS neurosurgery product, is the first robotic technology for use in stereotactic brain surgery and it has supported to date over 3,000 neurosurgical procedures.
Source: Integrated Surgical Systems, Inc.